Bonus Epilogue
Faith craned her neck as they crossed the Queensborough Bridge. “Whoa,” she breathed. “It's even better than the pictures.”
He reached across the backseat of the cab for Faith’s hand. “What should we do first? Central Park or pizza? Or both?”
“Times Square.”
He made a face, wanting to argue that Times Square was actually terrible.
Faith’s eyebrows drew down in concern. “You think it’ll be too crowded?”
“No, it’s not that. We can go to Times Square.” She’d love the lights and the energy. Faith was going to love every second of this trip. That was exactly why he’d been looking forward to it. “We’re going to see everything. All the cheesy tourist traps.”
“Mostly, I just want to see you.” She looked up at him sweetly.
“You could’ve done that back in West Oaks.”
“Fine. I want to see you and Times Square.”
He leaned over to kiss her forehead. He wanted a much better kiss, but that would have to wait. Tanner didn’t mind public displays of affection, but they still made Faith a little uncomfortable. And the cabbie could probably do without a show in his backseat.
This would be their first real vacation together.
It had taken a while for them both to save up enough time off from their jobs.
Tanner's schedule was packed now that he was a captain, which sometimes annoyed him.
Especially when it meant long, boring meetings or calming the ruffled feathers of demanding clients.
But for the next four days, he and Faith would get to spend every moment together.
On any given day, Tanner could overrule his baser possessive impulses.
Faith had her own life, her freedom, and he respected that.
But during this long weekend, he was going to keep her as close as possible.
He wasn’t going to miss a single smile or laugh, and his hands would preferably be on her around 98% of the time.
Hopefully, a lot more than just his hands.
The cab fought through traffic until they finally reached their hotel. The room wasn't ready yet, so they set out to sightsee after dropping off their bags.
As they walked down Fifth Avenue, Faith kept oohing and ahhing at the smallest things. The elaborate store window displays, the constant noise, and streams of people. Tanner had been to New York City plenty of times, but experiencing it through Faith’s eyes was even better.
While they waited for a walk sign to appear, Faith went up onto her tiptoes to whisper to him. “You feeling okay?”
“Feeling great.” He meant it. The months of work were paying off. Maybe he'd never be the exact same person he'd been before PTSD, but that didn't worry him anymore. Being here with Faith, knowing they had each other—it made everything easier, and everything worth it.
“Except I'm starving,” he said.
She laughed. “Somehow, I knew we'd end up getting food first. All right, take me to the New York pizza I've heard so much about.”
“You sound skeptical. Aren't you up for a new experience?”
“Always. But…I don’t like pizza that much.”
“You don’t like pizza?” He stared at her. “Do I even know you? What other secrets are you keeping from me?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s just pizza.”
“Just pizza,” he muttered, shaking his head as they walked along with the crowds.
They went over to Broadway to grab slices at Joe’s and ate them as they made their way toward Central Park. But the walk took way longer that it should because Faith kept stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Oh my god. Tanner. This is so good.”
He hook an arm around her shoulders, steering her forward before some New Yorker pushed her out of the way for blocking the sidewalk. “See? Should’ve trusted me. Never doubt me when it comes to food.”
“I won’t dare.”
They reached the park, and Faith’s eyes widened as a horse-drawn carriage drove past. She lifted her phone to take a picture.
“It’s that exciting?” he asked. “Pretty sure there are horses in Texas.”
She elbowed him. “Shush. The picture is for a friend. One of my patients. But no, we didn’t have fancy carriages back home. Just hayrides in wagons, which you must know all about, farm boy.”
“I’ll take a hayride any day. Please, don’t make me get in a Central Park carriage.” Of course, he’d do it if she really wanted to. But he’d have to bang out a hundred pull-ups or something afterward to win back his manhood.
Faith grumbled. “I’m so deprived.” She put her arms around his waist. “Will you take me on a different ride instead?” She was giving him one of her patented naughty looks.
“I’m planning on it.”
Tanner dipped her back for a slow, teasing kiss, right there on 59th Street for the world to see. Just in case there was any doubt—this woman’s all mine.
Faith had never stayed in a hotel this nice. The lobby was all glass and granite and giant flower arrangements. It had twenty floors, and she and Tanner had a room on the fifteenth. They returned to the room at the end of the night, and she slipped off her shoes.
Tanner went to switch on the lights, but she stopped him. “Look at the view. It’s…wow.” She went over to the floor-to-ceiling window, mesmerized by the city at night.
The rest of her first day in New York had been perfect.
They’d had dinner at an adorable restaurant in Greenwich Village.
Then Tanner had taken her to Times Square—again, because they’d passed through earlier—where Faith had basked in the colors and lights.
She knew it was a silly touristy thing to do, but so what?
It was one of those places people always talked about in movies, and now, she’d been there.
Tanner walked up behind her and rested his hands on her waist. “Good trip so far?”
“It’s amazing.”
On every block and every corner, she’d seen something different. She could stay here for years and probably never see half of it. Faith had loved riding the subway, too, being surrounded by people going any number of places and living their own unique lives.
West Oaks was home now, and as long as Tanner was there, she wouldn’t trade it for anything. But she was so grateful for the chance to visit a place like this. “Thank you for bringing me here,” she said.
“You paid for half of this trip.”
“I know.” Since moving in together, Faith and Tanner had shared all their bills. They’d finished the projects in the bungalow, picking paint colors, staining the kitchen cabinets, and hanging pictures. Now, both of their personalities were reflected in the space. It was truly theirs.
“But you planned the trip,” she pointed out, “and it’s been perfect.”
“Don’t jinx it.” He kissed her neck. “If today was perfect, it can only go downhill.”
“Nope, not true. Every day with you is perfect, and also better than the last one.”
“I shouldn’t be such a great boyfriend all the time. I’ve set your expectations way too high.” Tanner kept trailing hot kisses down her shoulder, and his hands moved up and down along the sides of her silky slip dress.
“Too late now. You spoiled me. The damage is done.”
“Guess I have to keep doing it.”
Tanner slid the straps of her dress off her shoulders. The thin fabric fell to her hips, and he pushed it the rest of the way off.
Faith turned around. She hadn’t been wearing a bra.
She felt her nipples hardening in the cool air of the room.
Her fingers went to the buttons of his shirt and undid them, one at a time.
Tanner helped her take the shirt off. The light coming through the window made his skin glow, and his tattoos stood out in relief.
She ran her palms over his biceps, up to his shoulders, and down over his pecs. So sexy.
While she touched all that hot, firm muscle, Tanner undid his belt and pushed down his pants. Then his boxer briefs. He was halfway hard already, but she wanted to help speed things along. Faith reached for him, and a few strokes had him swelling into her hand. They both moaned.
Out of everything she’d seen today, this was the best view, right here.
“Turn around,” he whispered. “Hands on the window.”
She did as instructed. Her hands pressed flat against the glass, and she spread her legs, already knowing what he wanted.
Tanner grabbed her hips and pulled her back against him. She felt his cock pressing against her ass through her panties. Teasing her. Working them both up.
Then that pressure disappeared, and his fingers replaced it. Sliding between her legs and past the crotch of her panties. Faith bit her lip, moaning. Tanner kissed and sucked her neck while his fingers played with her, massaging her clit and pulsing in and out of her opening.
Every inch of her skin had flushed with heat. She was struggling to keep still against the window. Across in the other buildings, she could watch people in apartments and offices. They couldn’t see her and Tanner—it was too dark in their hotel room—yet this still felt deliciously naughty.
“You ready for me?” Tanner asked. “I think you are.”
“So ready. I need you.”
He finally nudged her panties down her thighs. They fell to the floor, and Faith stepped out of them. Tanner pushed her legs back apart. “Bend over, baby.”
Faith arched her back, giving him a better angle.
The head of Tanner’s cock pressed into her.
That first moment when he entered her still made her gasp.
Faith braced against the glass as intense pleasure rolled through her body.
She loved how it felt to have Tanner inside of her, and she couldn’t imagine ever taking this for granted.
He leaned forward, and one of his hands landed next to hers on the window. His other held her at the hip. His thrusts were deep and powerful. For a few minutes, Faith lost herself in the hot rhythm of their bodies meeting.
She couldn’t always come with Tanner behind her, but today he was giving her exactly what she needed. That, added to the lights of the city, had her climbing higher and higher. His cock jerked as he started to orgasm, and that extra stimulation was all it took to send her over the edge.
Afterward, they cuddled up in the bed under the soft white duvet. Tanner drew circles over the skin of her back with his fingertips. “Where should we go on vacation next? Paris?”
“Yes. Definitely Paris. And London. And Tokyo!” She frowned. “Or have you been to all those places?”
“I haven’t been there with you. That’s all that matters.”
“You’re right. None of it would be the same without you, either.” She rested her head on his chest.
When she was a kid, she’d dreamed of visiting far off places all over the world. But the best part would be sharing them with the man she loved. Ending up under the blankets together, waking up beside him, ready for another perfect day.